ALBUM REVIEW: Forever Beyond – BLACK LUNG

Baltimore psychedelic fuzz drivers BLACK LUNG have returned with their fifth album, Forever Beyond. Capitalising off the launch pad that fourth album, Dark Waves, provided. This new offering seeks to push them further into the realms of sonic realms of the celestial remote. However, they are not merely looking to push a stoner doom jaunt to the stars. They have a tangible defiance, a focused energy to offer catharsis against the real world.

While there is no denying that the band are seeking to build on the style established on the previous record, they’re also showing clear signs of refining all the elements that have formed part of their DNA since 2014. Opening with Traveler, there’s elements of doom and psych-rock that are embedded which many will recognise. But they’re clearly having fun experimenting with the alchemy that the genre offers. No longer binding themselves to convention, they mix in progressive elements to bolster the deliver. Traveler unlocks the album, but there is so much more to discover.

Savior has a swagger provided by a no holds barred doom drenched riff in the intro that creates the frame work for an uncontested highlight. Textural and dynamic shifts generate further enticing presence while the rhythm drives home the catchy nature. Similarly, the track Follow offers a rich and tempting quality, this time with an intriguing vocal pattern. The diverse nature of which mirrors the rhythm offering a greater layer of enjoyment. The songwriting and musicianship carry off a multitude of techniques allowing BLACK LUNG to seamlessly blend pieces from many different regions.

While their music offers up much in the way of genuine intrigue and their refusal to sit on one course is excellent, the lyrical content, displaying their convictions and reflecting on current real-world problems, is where the power lies. They can conjure up moments of melodic entertainment with rhythmic power. However, the sentiment of the lyrics lends an added weight of authenticity to proceedings. This makes the songs on offer even more engaging than just simple stoner-doom experimentations.

Picking up on the energy of the previous album, Forever Beyond propels its’s sound to the stars. From start to finish, BLACK LUNG work tirelessly to deliver a soundscape that is as engaging as the clearest of night skies yet, retains a sense of purpose to deliver the melodies and lyrics. While it is possible to get lost in the broad scope of rhythms and multi layered textures, there is never a moment that becomes unnecessary. The mix allows for tracks like Border Hoarder to offer up vast dreamy soundscapes, giving everything space to move. Yet there is a clarity that rings through giving equal room to every note and word. The result is a standout moment on an electrifying album.

Eclectic and vibrant, BLACK LUNG deliver a fuzz driven journey into the cosmos. Don’t let that fool you however, interwoven with the psychedelic trip are moments of outstanding clarity and resonating attack. With elements pulled from their rich tapestry of recording coalescing into a statement of intent that delivers on multiple fronts from stoner, doom and psychedelic rock. Forever Beyond represents a formidable addition to the bands catalogue as well as a testament to pushing nebulous boundaries.

Rating: 8/10

Forever Beyond is set for release on March 6th via Magnetic Eye Records. 

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